Time for wedding dress shopping! Bring the whole crew or a select few? | Santa Fe Wedding Photographer

It’s dress shopping day, and you’ve brought all your people, bridesmaids, parents, in-laws,

and even a few aunts! It’s basically a big party until the opinions roll in.

At this point you’ve found 10 dresses that you love, but no one else can agree on anything. Do you keep trying on until there is a consensus or do you stay firm because, when you know, you know!

If you are the second bride a big group might be the right fit for you and can still be an enjoyable experience, even if no one else agrees with your decision. If you’re the first bride, maybe your dress buying experience should be a little more intimate.

You need to do what’s best for you! This is your big day, and you deserve to feel beautiful in your dress and confident about your choice.

Was your dress decision swayed by family and friends? Let me know in the comments!

Wedding Planning Tips From A Wedding Photographer | Santa Fe Wedding Photographer

You just got engaged, you’ve picked a date, and now it’s time to start planning and

You find out your favorite vendors are booked. It’s time to panic now, right? There is no need to panic!

Hear me out, when I was young and naïve, I had no idea what I was doing, and my wedding was just 6 months after my engagement. I will never forget how rude the ladies at the dress shop were, and how sad and embarrassed I was that I wasn’t going to get my dress. As someone with no extra funds to spare I couldn’t pay to have everything rush ordered.

The good news is you don’t have to experience what I did. So here are some tips:

If your number one picks are booked, you still have options! There are so many amazing vendors, and you shouldn’t have many problems finding some. If you are really set on specific vendors, you can always consider changing your date. You’ll just need to decide if the tradeoff is worth it to you.

Don’t be bullied or scared into changing your date or choosing a vendor you don’t want! If getting married sooner is your goal, there are so many ways to have a beautiful wedding and a fast engagement. When you are looking for vendors and the first one says you won’t find anyone else, keep looking till you find the right fit.

If you want specific fast booking vendors, and are ok with a longer engagement, I’d recommend 12-18 months. Not all vendors will be booked that far in advance, but it will give you a better chance of securing the ones who are most important to you.

Remember that inquiring with a vendor does not mean that your date is booked. When I get a new inquiry, I will always check with the couple before I book the date they were inquiring about. Venues, photographers, and wedding planners often book the fastest, so it’s something to keep in mind when you start the process.

Let me know how long your engagement was/is in the comments below! Did it have a big impact on booking vendors?

Old Town Albuquerque Engagement Session | Santa Fe Wedding Photographer

As a Santa Fe Wedding Photographer, One of my favorite locations to photograph engagement sessions at no matter the time of year is the Old Town Plaza. I had the best time with these beauties. Sometimes you have a couple that just looks so good without me doing anything that I feel like I can't even take credit for how pretty their pictures turn out.